Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Review

Will Ferrell puts the pedal to the metal in this petrol-head comedy about a true legend behind the wheel .As a child young Ricky Bobby always wanted to "go fast". So it should come as no surprise that the good ol' southerner ended up as the best NASCAR driver in the game. However when a cocky new French racer (Sacha Baron Cohen) enters the pits, Ricky's life blows a gasket and soon he's lost his nerve, his job and his wife (Leslie Bibb) to his best friend (John C. Reilly). Can the man for whom coming first is everything get back behind the wheel and regain his rightful place on the top of the podium or has his life hit the skids permanently?

Will Ferrell is emerging as a bit of an enigma. Best known for some truly inspired comedy - his "Saturday Night Live" shows are stuff of legend - Will has also proved that he can act too in movies such as "Melinda & Melinda". And while some of his big screen comedies can be wildly funny ("Anchorman"), others can miss the mark totally ("Kicking & Screaming"). Fortunately "Talladega Nights" falls into the former category.

Given free reign to improvise as much as he wants, Ferrell's free-styling banter is inspired while some scenes - such as him 'facing the fear' thanks to a cougar sat next to him in the car - will have you wiping away the tears. And it wouldn't be a proper Will Ferrell film if we didn't see him running around in just his pants at least once- and he doesn't disappoint. Cohen and Reilly provide ample support and just about manage to keep up with Will when required. In short, Ferrell fans are in for a treat as Ricky Bobby easily takes the chequered flag.